UPDATED 1/10/23: Windows 10 can receive different kinds of updates, including “quality updates” and “feature updates,” to patch security vulnerabilities, fix bugs and reliability problems, improve system performance, and introduce new features. Since updates can be confusing and difficult to track, you’ll understand the difference between quality and feature updates in this guide. You’ll also find the history of every Windows 10 update grouped by releases with information, such as build and knowledge base (KB) number, release date and number, and platform to help you stay informed.
Windows 10 quality update vs. feature update
Quality updates (also called “cumulative updates”) are updates that Windows 10 downloads and installs every month automatically through Windows Update. These updates are cumulative and include new fixes, improvements, and previously available patches. Usually, Microsoft releases these updates every second Tuesday of the month, which rollout date is referred to as “Patch Tuesday” or “Update Tuesday.” Also, internally, these updates are known as the “B” release because they roll out during the second week of the month. The Windows 10 updates include security fixes and non-security fixes.
In addition to the B release, Microsoft also pushes two more updates, known as “C” and “D” releases, during the third and fourth week of the month. These cumulative updates are optional and contain non-security fixes that the company is still testing and planning to release in the next Patch Tuesday update (the following month).
The company also provides updates outside the regular schedule, which are called “on-demand updates.” Typically, these are emergency releases that contain fixes that can’t wait for the next update for Windows 10.
Feature updates are released yearly (between October and November) and are technically new versions of Windows 10. Unlike quality updates, they include new features and improvements and require full reinstallation. However, reinstallation depends on your device’s version and the update you have to install.
Furthermore, these new versions of Windows 10 are optional, meaning they don’t install automatically until you manually trigger the process through Windows Update. However, the update will automatically install if you’re running a version nearing the end of service.
In the past, Windows 10 received two feature updates per year (during spring and fall), but Microsoft shifted from that approach to a single major update to have more time to build new versions of the OS.
Windows 10 current version information
Windows 10 version 21H2 is the most current release today. This feature update is known as the “November 2021 Update,” it’s been available since November 16, 2021, and the latest quality update is “build 19045.2486.” You can use these instructions to check the version installed on your device. Use these instructions to determine the quality updates that have already been applied to your computer.
Below you’ll find the latest Windows 10 update history information for versions 21H1, 20H2, 2004, and older releases. The history of Insider releases has been relocated to this page.
- Windows 10 version 22H2 update history
- Windows 10 version 21H2 update history
- Windows 10 version 21H1 update history
- Windows 10 version 20H2 update history
- Windows 10 version 2004 update history
- Windows 10 version 1909 update history
- Windows 10 version 1903 update history
- Windows 10 version 1809 update history
- Windows 10 version 1803 update history
- Windows 10 version 1709 update history
- Windows 10 version 1703 update history
- Windows 10 version 1607 update history
- Windows 10 version 1511 update history
- Windows 10 version 1507 update history
- Install quality updates on Windows 10
- Install optional updates on Windows 10
- Install feature updates on Windows 10
Windows 10 version 22H2 update history
Windows 10 version 22H2 (2022 Update) is the twelfth release since the original release.
Version 22H2 is considered a small update available for versions 21H2, 21H1, and 20H2 as a cumulative update that does not require reinstallation. However, the upgrade experience won’t change on computers running an older version, and full reinstallation will be required.
In this section, you’ll find the history of all the quality updates and links to find out the details about each quality update.
If you have already installed the new feature update, the initial release was “build 19045.1865,” and the latest version is Windows 10 build 19045.2486.
Windows 10 version 21H2 update history
Windows 10 version 21H2 (November 2021 Update) is the eleventh feature update and the second semi-annual release originally released on November 16, 2021.
Version 21H2 is considered a small update available for versions 21H1, 20H2, and 2004 as a cumulative update that does not require reinstallation. However, the upgrade experience won’t change on computers running an older version, and full reinstallation will be required.
If you have already installed the new feature update, the initial release was “build 19044.1348,” and the latest version is Windows 10 build 19044.2486.
Check the Windows Insider Program build release history for version 21H2.
Windows 10 version 21H1 update history
Windows 10 version 21H1 (May 2021 Update) is the tenth feature update and the first semi-annual release originally released on May 18, 2021.
Version 21H1 is considered a small update available for versions 20H2 and 2004 as a cumulative update that does not require reinstallation. However, the upgrade experience won’t change on computers running an older version, and full reinstallation will be required.
If you have already installed the new feature update, the initial release was “build 19043.985,” and the latest version is Windows 10 build 19043.2486.
Check the Windows Insider Program build release history for version 21H1.
Windows 10 version 20H2 update history
Windows 10 version 20H2 (October 2020 Update) is the tenth feature update and the second semi-annual release originally released on October 20, 2020.
Version 20H2 is considered a minor update available for version 2004 as a cumulative update that doesn’t require reinstallation. However, on devices running an older version, the upgrade experience won’t change.
If you have already installed the new feature update, the initial release was “build 19042.572.” The latest version is Windows 10 build 19042.2486.
Check the Windows Insider Program build release history for version 20H2.
Windows 10 version 2004 update history
Windows 10 version 2004 (May 2020 Update) is the ninth major refresh and the first semi-annual update originally released on May 27, 2020.
In this section, you’ll find the history of all the quality updates and links to find out the details about each release.
If you have already installed the new feature update, the latest version is Windows 10 build 19041.1415.
Check the Windows Insider Program build release history for version 2004 (20H1).
Windows 10 version 1909 update history
Windows 10 version 1909 (November 2019 Update) was the eighth major release and the second semi-annual update available in November 2019.
In this section, you’ll find the list with all the cumulative updates and links to find out the details about each release.
If you have already installed the feature update, the latest version is Windows 10 build 18363.2274.
Check the Windows Insider Program build release history for version 1909 (19H2).
Windows 10 version 1903 update history
Windows 10 version 1903 (May 2019 Update) was the seventh major release and the first semi-annual update available on May 21, 2019.
In this section, you’ll find the list with all the Windows 10 update history for this version and links to understand the details about each rollout. The first quality update for Windows 10 version 1903 arrived on April 9, 2019, as a security update.
If you have already installed the feature update, the latest version is Windows 10 build 18362.1256.
Check the Windows Insider Program build release history for version 1903 (19H1).
Windows 10 version 1809 update history
Windows 10 version 1809 (October 2018 Update) was the sixth major release and the second semi-annual update available on October 2, 2018.
In this section, you’ll find the list with all the quality updates and links to find out the details about each release.
If you have already installed the feature update, the latest version is Windows 10 build 17763.3887.
Check the Windows Insider Program build release history for version 1809 (Redstone 5).
Windows 10 version 1803 update history
Windows 10 version 1803 (April 2018 Update) was the fifth major release (and the first update out of two rolling out in 2018) that became available starting April 30, 2018.
Below you’ll find the list with all the quality updates and links to find out each release’s details. The first quality update for Windows 10 version 1803 was “build 17133.73,” but due to a blocking bug, Microsoft created build 17134.1, making build 17134.5 the first official update for the “April 2018 Update.”
The latest version is Windows 10 build 17134.2208.
Check the Windows Insider Program build release history for version 1803 (Redstone 4).
Windows 10 version 1709 update history
The Windows 10 version 1709 (Fall Creators Update) was the fourth major release and the second in one year. It became available on October 17, 2017. It was still referred to as version “1709,” indicating the year and month when the update was completed.
The initial version is the Windows 10 build 16299.15, and after some quality updates, the latest version is Windows 10 build 16299.2166.
Windows 10 version 1703 update history
The Windows 10 version 1703 (Creators Update) was the third major update for the operating system, and even though it became available on April 11, 2017, Microsoft decided to refer to this version as “1703”.
The initial version is Windows 10 build 15063, and after many cumulative updates, the latest version is Windows 10 build 15063.2679.
Windows 10 version 1607 update history
Windows 10 version 1607 (Anniversary Update) was the second and latest major update, and while Microsoft released the update on August 2, 2016, the company decided to keep the “1607” version number. This version was also known as the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.
The initial version was Windows 10 build 14393.10, and after some cumulative updates, the latest version is Windows 10 build 14393.5648.
Windows 10 version 1511 update history
Windows 10 version 1511 was the first major update, which the company released in November 2015. This version was also known as the Windows 10 November Update.
The initial version was Windows 10 build 10586, and after many cumulative updates, the latest version is Windows 10 build 10586.1540.
Windows 10 version 1507 update history
Windows 10 version 1507 was the initial release of the new operating system, and it was originally released on July 29, 2015.
The initial version was Windows 10 build 10240, and after many cumulative updates, the latest version is Windows 10 build 10240.19685.
Install quality updates on Windows 10
To check and download the latest updates on Windows 10, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click the Check for updates button.
- Windows 10 check for updates
Once you complete the steps, Windows Update will download and install all the available updates on your device.
Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click the Check for updates button.
Windows 10 check for updates
Install optional updates on Windows 10
To download and install optional updates on Windows 10, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Windows Update.
- Click the View optional update link (if available).
- Windows Update settings with Optional updates link
- Expand the update category with the quality update you want to download.
- Check the optional update that you want to download.
- Click the Download and install button.
- Windows 10 Optional updates settings
Once you complete the steps, the package you selected will download and install automatically on the computer.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the View optional update link (if available).
Windows Update settings with Optional updates link
Expand the update category with the quality update you want to download.
Check the optional update that you want to download.
Click the Download and install button.
Windows 10 Optional updates settings
Install feature updates on Windows 10
To download and install a new feature update, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Windows Update.
- Under the “Optional updates available” section, click the Download and Install now button.
- Quick tip: If you see the option, click the Check for updates button. If you still do not see the option, then it is likely that the update isn’t ready for your device.
- Windows 10 feature update install
- Click the Restart now button.
After you complete the steps, the new version of Windows 10 will download and install automatically.
Under the “Optional updates available” section, click the Download and Install now button.
Windows 10 feature update install
Click the Restart now button.
